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In moves hailed by the groups Freedom to Marry and Log Cabin
Republicans, Reps. Charlie Bass, R-N.H., and Richard Hanna, R-N.Y.,
this week became the second and third Republicans to co-sponsor the
Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal the 1996 Defense of
Marriage Act. "It is right to extend equal protection under federal
law to all couples who are legally married without infringing upon
religious freedom and beliefs," Hanna said.

Related Summaries

Illinois Rep. Robert Dold, a Republican, on Monday became the third member of his party to back an effort aimed at repealing the Defense of Marriage Act. The Respect for Marriage Act, introduced in January, would prohibit states from disregarding same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, as is currently permitted under DOMA. At least 126 House members have co-sponsored the legislation, including Republicans Richard Hanna of New York and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida.

A group of Democratic lawmakers kicked off the 114th Congress on Tuesday by reintroducing a bill to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Led by Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York and Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the Respect for Marriage Act would grant all legally married same-sex couples access to federal marriage benefits and protections, even if they now live in states without marriage equality. At least 77 representatives and 41 senators have co-sponsored the legislation.

The group Freedom to Marry, which has been working to build support for legislation that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, reports that 159 members of the House have signed on as sponsors of the bill, a new record. FTM partnered with groups such as the ACLU, National Black Justice Coalition and Log Cabin Republicans to reach out to individual members.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., has become the first Republican co-sponsor of a bill that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. "Her support reminds us that the march to repeal the discriminatory DOMA is not a partisan issue. ... [T]he drive to end DOMA is -- and must be -- a collective, nonpartisan effort that unites Americans behind a simple push for equality," said Rep. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., the original sponsor of the legislation known as the Respect for Marriage Act.

Some federal lawmakers opposed to the Defense of Marriage Act say a federal judge's decision gutting the law highlights the need to repeal it altogether, but Capitol Hill insiders say it's not on the agenda because there aren't enough votes to overturn the 1996 law. "The right of same-sex couples to marry with the same protections, benefits and obligations as straight couples may, ultimately, be decided by the Supreme Court," said Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.